Christina’s Project

BLINDNESS/VISUAL IMPAIRMENT RATE PER 1000: 17 YEARS AND YOUNGER

Fem

ale

Mal

ePo

or

Near P

oor

Mid

dle/

High

Inco

me

With

disab

ility

With

out d

isab

lity

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

POLLEN ALLERGY AND DAILY LIFE

55%

25%

Less Productiv-ityLimit Outdoor Time

ALLERGY SEASON INCREASING

Year 1995

Year 2009

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

61

88

POLLEN ALLERGY – MY EYE SYMPTOMS

Discharge from eyes

Eye irritation

Eye pain

Eyelid swelling

Increased tear production

Increased sensitivity to light

Itchy eyes

Watery eyes

THE PROBLEM

SOME DISEASES THAT ARE SIMILAR TO MY PROBLEM

Allergic Conjunctivitis Allergic reaction that causes

inflammation of the conjunctiva.

Choroiditis Inflammation of the part of the eye called the

choroid (layer behind the retina). Usually only one eye is affected.

Conjunctival rash Conditions of the conjunctiva which

can cause rashes.

KEYWORD – CONJUNCTIVA

WHAT MY DOCTOR SAYS

“I don’t know…”

“Usually people who have undergone plastic surgery [for double eyelids] are more prone to rare cases like this.” I never had plastic surgery

Long term case

I am going to the doctor once a month

Have been prescribed steroids eye drops 4 drops everyday

STEROIDS

Effective in treating eye allergies

But reserved for severe symptoms that are unresponsive to other treatments

Side effects: Elevated pressure (can lead to loss of

vision) Cataract (also loss/interference of

vision)

Very effective only for short term treatment

MY QUESTIONS

Is it a genetic mutation?

Was I born with it?

Did I do something that formed it?

Is it going to grow as I grow?

Can it be surgically removed?

Will my eyesight worsen because of this?

What if this was something that the world had never seen before?

REFERENCES CBC News. (2010, March 19). FAQ: Seasonal allergies: Something to sneeze at.      CBC News. Retrieved from

http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/story/2010/03/19/      f-seasonal-allergies-symptoms.html

Health Grades, Inc. (2011, January 10). Eye symptoms. Retrieved from      http://www.bettermedicine.com/article/eye-symptom

Health Grades Inc. (2011, April 29). Allergic conjunctivitis. Retrieved from      http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/a/allergic_conjunctivitis/intro.htm

Health Grades Inc. (2011, April 29). Choroiditis. Retrieved from      http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/c/choroiditis/intro.htm

Health Grades Inc. (2011, April 29). Conjunctival disorders. Retrieved from      http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/c/conjunctival_disorders/intro.htm

Health Grades Inc. (2011, April 29). Conjunctival rash. Retrieved from      http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/sym/conjunctival_rash.htm

LaFee, S. (2000, April 3). Eyes have it. In Eye implants could end blindness in      foreseeable future. Retrieved May 18, 2011, from SIRS Discoverer database.

Majmudar, P. A. (2005, October 25). Eye allergies. Retrieved May 17, 2011, from      http://www.emedicinehealth.com/eye_allergies/article_em.htm

Moffett, T. (n.d.). Conjunctivitis. In What are the causes of eye diseases?      Retrieved May 17, 2011, from http://www.ehow.com/      about_5152578_causes-eye-diseases.html

National Eye Institute. (2011, May). Impairment in children and adolescents. In      National eye institute. Retrieved May 29, 2011, from      http://www.nei.nih.gov/healthyvision/objective/children.asp

Schwartz, D. (2011, May 24). Seasonal allergy: The four seasons of hay fever.      CBC News. Retrieved from http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/story/2011/05/24/      f-seasonal-allergy.html

Woody, J. R. (2011). Eye allergy (allergic eye disease). Retrieved May 21, 2011,      from http://www.medicinenet.com/eye_allergy/article.htm